Strapping tool construction



Oct. 10, 1967 N. A. POLIT STRAPPING TOOL CONSTRUCTION 5 Sheets-Sheet 1Filed April 8, 1965 ATTORNEYS Oct. 10, 1967 N. A. POLIT 3,346,022

STRAPPING TOOL CONSTRUGT ION 5 Sheets- Sheet 2 nvvslv TOR v 7- JVQL'Z@PO/J Arm/mars N. A. POLIT STRAPPING TOOL consmuc'rldn Oct. 10, 1967 5Sheets-Shet 5 Filed April 8, 1965 IN'VENTOR 54% M? ATTORNEYS Oct. 10,1967 N. A. POLIT sTRAPBInc- TOOL CONSTRUCTION Filed April a; 1965 wQ v5mm A TTORNEYS 0140, 967 N. A. Pom 3,346,022

STRAI PING TOOL CONSTRUCTION v v Sheets-Sheet 5 //V l/E N TOR fizz Q 10/62 A TTORNEYS United States Patent 3,346,022 STRAPPING TOOLCONSTRUCTION Neil A. Polit, Cary, Ill., assignor to Signode Corporation,a corporation of Delaware Filed Apr. 8, 1965, Ser. No. 446,624 7 Claims.(Cl. 140-934) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A power operated strapping toolis disclosed as including a frame having a pair of elongated spacedapart frame members that define an elongated path 1n which the lead endportion and source end portion are disposed The instant inventionrelates to strapping tools. Particularly the invention relates to apower operated strapping tool of the class which is adapted to holdoverlapped portions of a strap which is looped about an object such as apackage or box and to tension such held strap and, while tensioned,shear the strap from the strap source and crimp a metal seal and theoverlapped strap portions of the strap together.

Characterizing-strapping tools of the instant class are those which mayembody the teaching of co-pending application Serial No. 73,885 filedDecember 5, 1960, now US. Patent No. 3,198,218 issued August 3, 1965. Inaccordance with the disclosures of such co-pending application, thestrapping tool comprises a body or framework which is adapted to engagethe surface of a package or box to be strapped. The lead portion of astrap is fed from a strapping source through an upper track in andprojected from the forward end of the tool and then is looped about thepackage or box and thereafter carried through a lower track provided inthe tool by means of which the lead portion of the strap is disposedbelow the fed portion of the strap in a manner such that the fed portionand the lead portion are in overlapped or superposed relationship. Meansare provided for immobilizing the lead portion of the strap once it isdisposed in substantially final strapping position, while slack isremoved from the loop of the strap about the box or package, and thestrap is tensioned by reverse'feeding and pulling of the fed portion ofthe strap toward the strapping source. The means for tensioning thestrap'include a tensioning wheel which engages the fed portion to drivethe same toward its supply source.

Within the frame of the tool, those structures which separate the upperand lower strap portions terminate to cause the overlapped strapportions to engage below a strap sealing mechanism. By reciprocativemeans, a metal seal is fed from a seal magazine under the strap sealingmechanism onto the upper surface of the upper of the overlapped andengaged strap sections. As a result of operation of the sealingmechanism, the seal is bent about the overlapped strap sections andcrimped thereto, and the fed portion of the strap, being the uppermostof the connected together strap sections, is severed from the supplysource by a cutter reciprocated with the sealing mechanism. Uponcompletion of the sealing operation, the strap sealing mechanism iscaused to elevate and thereby actuates means for removing the tensioningwheel from strap engagement.

Following completion of the strapping operation, however, parts of thefed portion and the lead portion of the strap are yet disposed in theirtracks and are not freed from the tool, and, as a consequence, tightlytie the tool to the box or package on which the strap has been sealed.Each of the strap tracks is provided with a slot through which the strapcan be manually slid transversely of its longitudinal axis to liberatethe tool. In practice, the trapped tool is manually withdrawn from thepackage transversely of the longitudinal axis of the sealed strap fromone side thereof rather than the package being withdrawn from the tool,as the tool can be manipulated more easily than the box or package.

From the foregoing, it is apparent that the prior tool is not adaptedfor automaticstrapping, inasmuch as either the tool must be manuallywithdrawn from engagement with the strap after each box or package isstrapped, or each strapped box or package must be manually pulled toseparate the tensioned strap from the tool.

In accordance with the instant invention, and as an object thereof,there is provided in a strapping tool of the class described meanswhereby such tool can operate from a fixed position by obviating therequirement to remove the tool from the strap each time a box or packageis strapped.

An additional object of the instant invention is the provision in a toolof the class described of means providing tracks for the overlapped fedand lead portions of a looped strap which are disengageable from thestrap portions to free the strapping tool which may be mounted in fixedposition.

i A yet further object of the instant invention is the provision, in atool of the class described which is adapted to be operated from a fixedposition, of means proyiding guides for the upper and lower overlappedportions of a strap looped about a package in which said means arerockably disengaged from the overlapped strap sections after sealing ofthe strap about the package or box sealed thereby.

, Still a further object is the provision of a tool of the describedclass having separable tracks to release the strap portions heldtherein. for strapping a box or package. The. foregoing and otherobjects, features and advantages of the present invention will becomemore apparent upon consideration of the following description and appended claims, when considered in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings wherein the same reference character or numeral refers to likeor corresponding parts throughout the several views.

On the drawings:

' FIG. 1 is an elevational view of a tool embodying one form of theinstant invention, looking toward what maybe considered a sideandshowing the same in strapping association with a package.

' FIG. 2 is a bottom plan of said tool, parts thereof and strap portionsbeing shown dotted for the purpose of illustration.

FIG. 3 is a partial vertical sectional view taken substantially on theline 3-3 of FIG. 2 and looking in the direction of the arrows.

. FIG. 4 is a partial vertical sectional view taken substantially on theline 44 of FIG. 2 and looking in the direction of the arrows.

FIG. 5 is a view of said embodiment taken on composite horizontal planesdefined substantially by the line Patented Oct. 10, 1967 Q9 -5 of FIG. 1and looking in the direction of the arrows, parts of the tool beingshown dotted and in phantom, as well as parts of the strap being shownin phantom, for the purpose of illustration.

FIG. 6 is a view of the embodiment similar to FIG. 5, however showingthe parts in strap-liberated position.

FIG. 7 is a partial vertical sectional view of said embodiment takensubstantially on the line 77 of FIG. 6 and looking in the direction ofthe arrows.

FIG. 8 is a partial vertical sectional view of said embodiment takensubstantially on the line 88 of FIG. 6 and looking in the direction ofthe arrows.

FIG. 9 is a partial longitudinal vertical sectional view of the toolshowing the relationship therein of the strap portions and takensubstantially on the line 99 of FIG. 3 and looking in the direction ofthe arrows. Referring now more particularly to FIG. 1, therein there isseen a frame generally designated by the numeral 10 which is fabricatedfrom any metal suited for the purpose employed and well known to thoseskilled in the art. The frame 10 may be cast or otherwise suitablyformed to provide a base 11, which is disposed in what may be consideredherein as a horizontal plane, and an integral vertically normallyextending support section 12. As used in this description, horizontalrefers merely to the plane of the base 11, and vertical to the planeextending normally thereto, inasmuch as the device may be disposed withthe base 11 in various positions depending upon convenience. Attentionis also invited to adaptation of the frame 10 for rigid securance to andemployment as a permanent part of various devices such as, for example,large automatic package handling equipment.

The vertical support 12 defines what may be referred to as the rear wallof the frame member 10 in which there is a slot or opening through whichstrapping generally designated as 13 is fed into the strapping tool fromsupply source (not shown) by any suitable means. To facilitateunderstanding, various parts of the strapping 13 are defined as follows:That part which is farthest from the supply source is considered as thelead portion and identified by S". That part which is next adjacent thesource of supply is considered as the fed or source portion and isidentified by S. The part between the fed portion S and the lead portionS" and disposed about a package or box 18 is referred to as the loopportion and identified by numeral 15.

By means of a shield 175, a strap portion 8' is confined from above anddirected from Wall 12 into a track or chamber 94 below seal magazine 27,which will be presently more fully defined, and as clearly seen in FIG.9. The package engaging loop portion 15 is projected forwardly from thefront end 16 of frame 10, as an extension of strap portion S about thepackage or box 18 to be strapped, with the lead end S" of said strapreturned into frame 10 in the direction of arrow 17 of FIG. 1 through aslot in the vertical support 12 into an appropriate chamber or track 165to be presently described and which is separated from and disposed belowthe track or chamber 94. After the feeding of the strapping 13 and priorto removal of slack, tensioning and sealing, the disposition of theportions of strapping 13 are as shown in FIG. 9.

Extending forwardly from the rear support 12 adjacent one side of theframe 10 is a boss or lug 19 which is spaced upwardly from the base 11 adistance sufficient to accommodate the rear end or hub 20 of anelongated gate generally designated as 14 between said base 11 and'said' boss 19. Hub 20 is carried on a journalling pin 176, one end ofwhich is projected from said boss 19 and into the base 11, said pinproviding an axis of rotation for gate 14 on the upper surface of base11. Pin 176 may be held from vertical displacement by a split ring orclamp 177 mounted on the other end of said pin 176, as illustrated inFIGS. 5 and 6.

At the forward end portion of gate 14, being longitudinally opposite hub20, said gate carries or is integral with a block 21 the elevation ofwhich is higher than that of the remainder of the gate, as illustratedin FIG. 1. The block 21 has a forwardly opening recess 22 which extendstransversely of said block 21; and a rail or track 23, which extendstransversely of the longitudinal axis of frame 10, projects intoengagement with a shoulder 24 defining said recess. Thus, upon rockingmovement of the gate 14 about the pivot pin 176, the forward end orblock portion 21 of said gate is guided by the engagement of theshoulder 24 with the rail or track 23. As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and3-6, inclusive, said track or rail 23 has an integral forwardlyextending flange 25 which is anchored to the forward end of said base 11by means of fasteners 26 such as screws or the like.

To the end that a conventional seal 62, fabricated of metal or the like,may be applied on the upper of the overlapped strap portions S and S"for bending thereabout and subsequent crimping thereto, a seal magazine,comprising a housing 27 which may have vertical side walls 28 and 29spaced apart longitudinally of the frame 10, is suitably supported bythe frame 10 with its side wall 29 defining a lower delivery slot 30 indelivery alignment with a chamber 31 in which two overlapped strapsections S and S are exposed, as will become apparent presently and asillustrated in FIG. 9. The side walls 28 and 29 have a pair of flanges32 which extend toward each other and serve as retainers for a stack ofseals 33 disposed in the magazine. A spring biased seal hold-down pad 34which may be actuated by a spring mechanism 78, the precise constructionof which may be according to the aforesaid co-pending application,serves to press downwardly on the stack of seals 33, whereby thelowermost thereof will be disposed in alignment with delivery slot 30for ejection on top of the overlapped strap segments S and S.

For successivelly ejecting the lowermost seal 62 of the stack of seals33, a reciprocative seal ejector arm 35 is pivotally connected by meansof a pivot pin 37 to a boss or car 36 which extends rearwardly from themagazine wall 28. One end of a spring 38 engages against said pin 37,and the other end of said spring engages said arm, as illustrated inFIG. 1, to bias the arm 35 into ejection position. For ejecting thelowermost seal 62 of the stack 33, the ejector arm 35 has secured in itslowermost end portion by means of pin 49 an ejector finger 39 whichextends through a slot 40 in magazine side wall 28, as illustrated inFIGS. 1, 3, 7 and 9. Reciprocation of ejector arm 35 may be controlledin the manner and by means taught in said co-pending application.

Adjacent the forward wall 29 of the magazine and disposed above theposition or chamber 31 to which a seal 62 is shown in FIG. 9 as havingbeen delivered to the overlapped strap portions S and S", is a sealingmechanism generally designated by numeral 53. The sealing mechanismcomprises a plurality of longitudinally spaced vertical seal crimpingjaws 54 between which there are disposed notch bars 55. The upper end ofthe sealing mechanism 53 is operably connected by a pin 57 to a link 56by which the sealing mechanism is connected to a ram (not seen).Illustrated in FIG. 1 is the block of the sealing mechanism 53, into arecess 61 of which there extends a cam rod 59 about which a spring 60bears against the walls of said recess 61 to aid in operation of thesealing mechanism to bend the end of the seal 62 and crimp the same overthe overlapped strap portions S and S" to complete the seal in themanner illustrated in FIG. 7. I

An elongated vertical cutter 58 is carried against wall 29 by the blockof the sealing mechanism 53 to sever the strap section S at 178 from itssource, as illustrated in FIG. 9; so that the bound package 18 may beremoved after the seal is formed about the strap. The sealing mechanism53 together with the cutter 58 are reciprocated ing mechanism 53 isdriven downwardly, and, upon com.

pletion of the strap-sealing operation, the sealing mechanism 53 will beactuated to withdraw or rise from chamber 31 whereupon the jaws 54 willrelease the sealed strap portions S and'S".

An elongated vertically extending latch 63 is pivoted on a pin 65 whichis projected forwardly from the sealing mechanism 53. The latch 63,biased by a spring 64 which is disposed about the pin 65, as illustratedin FIG. 1, is urged to engage under a boss 66. The boss is rigidlysecured to a plate 67 which at its upper end portion is rigidly securedto a rocking shaft 68 on which there is carried a tensioning motorhousing 69. The lower end of motor housing 69 supports a driven shaft 70which is journalled in the lower end portion of the plate 67, asillustrated in FIG. 1. As the sealing mechanism 53 rises, therefore, itsforce will be transmitted through the latch 63 to lift the lug 66 torock the plate 67 and the shaft 68 to which said plate is connected.Thereby, the tensioning motor housing 69 will be caused to rockclockwise with respect to FIG. 1, carrying with it the shaft 7.0 and atensioning wheel 71 which is mounted on said shaft 70. In addition,means can be provided for temporarily locking the tensioning motorhousing out of position, if desired. The latch 63 may be reset by anysuitable means, that is, disengaged from the lug 66. Mechanisms capableof performing these functions are set forth in the aforestated copendingapplication.

By referring to FIG. 9, the manner in which tensioning wheel 71 operateswill readily be appreciated when considered with the narration that,after the strap 13 has been disposed about package 18, a gripper foot 72is actuated to engage and hold a strap segment S"-in a manner and bymeans which presently will become apparent. Thereafter, the strappingfeeding means (not shown) be comes reversed to pull the loop portion 15about package 18 by removing slack. Tension wheel 71, having thenassumed the dotted line position of FIG. 9, exerts a downward force onthe overlapped segments S and S" which is adequate to immobilize segmentS" on gripper base 120 which will be presently described. The frictionbetween the segments S and S" is not adequate, however, to overcome theclockwise torque of tension wheel 71 which will drive strap portion Stoward its source, thereby tensioning the strap about package 18.

The gripper foot-72, which is reciprocated to grip the strap portion S"against a base 97, to be presently described, during removal of slackfrom and tensioning of the strap, may be controlled by a pneumaticcylinder 41. As illustrated in FIG. 1, the pneumatic cylinder 41 has itsupper end portion supported on an ear, holder or bracket 42 which iscarried on vertical support 12 and to which said cylinder is secured bymeans of a pin 43. From the lower end portion of the cylinder 41, aretractable pressure-actuated piston or rod 44 is projected Vdownwardly, being adjustably threaded into a block or connector 45 tocontrol the effective length of the rod 44, with the connection inadjusted position being secured by a nut 46. The rear end portion 121 ofa forwardly extending elongated link or arm 47 is pivoted to theadjustable connector 45 by means of a pin 48, as illustrated in FIGS. 1and 2 and in phantom in FIG. 5. The forward end portion 88 of said arm47 is rigidly secured to a gripper mounting boss 86 of gripper foot 72by means of a stem 93 which serves as a tie. At its inner end, stem 93is rigidly secured to said boss 86, its opposite threaded end 87 beingprojected through arm portion 88 with a nut 89 completing the fastening.A spacer 100 is mounted on said stem 93 and is disposed with oppositeends abut- 6 ing arm portion 88 and mounting boss 86. In regard to thelatter, see FIGS. 6 and 7.

The boss 86 extends vertically from and carries or is rigidly secured tothe gripper foot 72, the gripping force of which is augmented by anexpansion spring 99 one end of which is anchored on arm 47, asillustrated in FIG. 9, and the other end of which may be suitablyanchored on a portion of frame 10. Reciprocation of the rod 44 andaccordingly of gripper foot 72 is effected through pressure controlmeans (not shown) disposed in an enlarged housing 50' supported on theframe 10, said pressure control means communicatively connecting to thecylinder 41 through a fluid duct 51 one end of which is connected in thehousing 50 and the opposite end of which is connected to a fitting 52,as illustrated in FIG. 1.

Referring now to FIG. 2, therein the base 11 is shown comprising anelongated side part 92 against the upper surface of which the face gate14 is rockable clockwise and counterclockwise with respect to FIG. 2about the pin 176. An opposite side part 73 of said frame 10 extendslongitudinally of said frame member 92, and is disposed laterallythereof, being of substantially the same length thereof. As illustratedin FIG. 2, the base members 92 and 73 are spaced apart providingtherebetween an elongated gap 83 extending the length of the frame 10.At their forward end portions 74, however, base members 92 and 73 areconnected together by an integral strap guide 75 that bridges the frontspan 76 over gap 83 between the front end portions 74, said guide beingU-shaped extending vertically upwardly from the base and having aU-shaped guide flange 77 integral with or rigidly secured to the frontwall 16.

The base section 73 has a pair of inwardly extending longitudinallyspaced bosses or extensions the rearward of which is numbered 79 and theforward of which is identified by the numeral 80. Between the extensions79 and 80 an inwardly opening recess 81 is formed in the base member 73.The bottom wall or base 82 of magazine 27 is partially visible in therecess 81 when viewed from the bottom plan of FIG. 2. Additionally, jaws54 of the sealing mechanism 53, as well as cutter 58, are also seen] inthe recess 81 forwardly of base 82 when viewed from the bottom plan ofFIG. 2,

As illustrated in FIGS. 2, 3, 6 and 7, the previously identified gripperor gripper foot 72 is spaced below the magazine floor 82 and is disposedtransversely of the longitudinal gap 83. The gripper foot 72 comprisesan upper portion 85 which is connected to boss 86 and a toothed orserrated base 84 which has downwardly extending gripping teeth 90. Afixed cutter is mounted adjacent and forwardly of the gripper foot 72below magazine floor 82. As illustrated in FIG. 9, the cutting edge 179of fixed cutter 95 is in vertical alignment with the cutting edge 180 ofcutter 58 by reason of which the strapping portion S will be severed at178 as-the cutter is lowered as aforesaid.

The gripper foot 72 and the fixed cutter 95 define a floor for chamber94 through which strap portion S will be guided longitudinally of theframe 10 through the chamber 31 outwardly from the front end 16 of theframe, being retained from lateral shifting by engagement with segment Sof the strap, when projected forwardly from the chamber 94 out of theforward end 16, merges into the loop 15 which is carried about the boxor package 18. The lead portion S which extends forwardly from the loopportion 15 is carried back into the device as aforesaid through the wall12 into the chamber 165. The top of the chamber is defined by thegripper foot 72 and the fixed cutter 95. i

' The bottom of the chamber 165 is defined by the transversely orinwardly extending base, shoe or foot 96 of a right angular boss 97, thevertical portion 98 of which depends from the inner edge portion 91 ofthe gate 14 with which said boss 97 may be integral, as illustrated inFIGS. 3 and 7. The gripper base 96 is spaced below the teeth 90 when thegate 14 is in closed position, as illustrated in FIGS. 2, 3 and 5, andsaid gripper base 96 presents an'upper flat which serves as aretractable floor for chamber 165 and against which the strap portion 5'is grippable by the teeth 90. As illustrated in FIG. 6, the uppersurface of gripper base 96 has a roughened or knurled section 102against which the strap portion 8'' is adapted to be held by the teeth90, and a smooth section 101 which will be disposed below the fixedcutter 95 when gate 14 is closed. From the foregoing, it is appreciatedthat when gate 14 is closed, as in FIGS. 2, 3, 4 and 5, the gripper base96 is disposed beneath the magazine base 82 which is superposed withrespect to the gripper foot 72 which is disposed between said gripperbase 96 and the magazine base 82, as illustrated clearly in FIGS. 2, 3,7 and 9.

As illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7, when the gate 14 is open, that is,rocked counterclockwise with respect to FIG. 2 and clockwise withrespect to FIG. 5, the gripper base 96 will be moved from below thestrap section 8'. The base of the chamber 94 then will become the top ofthe package 18, as illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7.

The inwardly or transversely extending gripper plate 120 of a rightangular boss 103 bridges the gap 83 when the gate 14 is closed, asillustrated in FIGS. 2, 4 and 5, abutting the recess-defining frameextension 80 and thereby providing a floor for a tensioning chamber 174.The boss 103 has a vertical part 104 which depends from the inner edge91 with which said boss may be integral. Boss 103 is disposed forwardlyfrom the boss 97 and the sealing mechanism 53,-and said bosses 103 and97 together with the frame extensions 79 and 80 define an opening, whengate 14 is closed, which might or could be characterized as a floorlessbase for chamber 31, whereby the sealing mechanism 53 is exposed throughrecess 81 of frame from below, being separated from package or box 18only by those portions of strap 13 and seal 62 which may have beendelivered below the sealing mechanism 53.

As illustrated in FIG. 6, the gripper plate 120 is defined by an upperforward gripper part 119 and a rearwardly angularly downwardly slopingstrap guide part 122. A gripper plug 124 extends above and is secured inthe gripper part 119 by means of a screw 125 which is seen in the planview of FIG. 2. The gripper plug 124 presents an upper serrated surface123 which is disposed in tensioning alignment below the tensioning wheel71 when gate 14 is closed. As illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 8, the gripperplate 120 has an integral outwardly extending lug or extension 118 whichemploys the frame extension 80 as a backup or bottom support when thegate 14 is closed in the position of FIG. 4.

The requirement for such support results from the function of the plug124 which serves as a table over which the strap segment S is driventoward the rear of the strapping machine during the tensioning operationhereinbefore described. That is to say, the tensioning wheel 71 which isrigidly secured on the reduced end portion 127 of shaft 70 by means of anut 128 is journalled in driving relationship in the lower end portion126 of the tension motor housing 69, as illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 8.When the tension motor housing 69 is caused to rock counterclockwisewith respect to FIGS. 1 and 9, in accordance with the teachings of theaforestated co-pending application or by any other suitable means toassure tensioning position, the strap portion S" will be held by thegripper foot 72. By then engaging the tensioning wheel 71 against thestrap portion S and rotating said tension wheel 71 clockwise withrespect to FIGS. 1 and 9 on the axis provided by the shaft 70, the strapportion S will be tensioned in the direction of its source. It isappreciated that such tensioning torque will create a substantialdownward force on the gripper base 120; such force is resisted by theextension 80 which supports lug 118.

Inasmuch as the smooth face of strap portion S provides the best surfaceover which to slide the strap portion S during the tensioning operation,the leading edge 117 of the lead portion S is extended beyond thechamber 31 onto the gripper surface 123. Under the tensioning torque,the strap portion S will be driven against the upper surface 123 whichwill tend to bite into the lower surface of the strap portion S toimmobilize it to form a bed on the upper surface of which the portion Swill slide toward its source under tensioning torque as it is driven bythe knurled surface of tensioning wheel 71.

When tensioning torque reaches a level at which no further slack isremovable from the strap 13 and while the tensioning force ismaintained, a seal 62 is applied to the overlapped strap portions S andS and the strap portion S is severed at 178. By reason of the pull atthe strap supply source which occurs during strap tensioning, the strapportion S rearward of cut 178 may be withdrawn from chamber 94. Uponcompletion of tensioning, strap sealing and cutting, gate 14 will bemade to move from the position illustrated in FIGS. 2, 4 and 5 to theposition illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 8. While such occurs, the gate 14carries the gripper base 96 and gripper plate clockwise with respect toFIG. 6. Thereby, the floors are removed from beneath chambers 94, 165and 174, as a result of which the sealed strap about package 18, whichtheretofore, after sealing and prior to opening the gate 14, had securedthe tensioning tool to the package 18, will draw tightly about andagainst the package by the tension then in the strap.

In addition to providing means for controlling the tensioning wheel 71by raising and lowering tension wheel housing 69, heretofore described,means, which depend upon completion of tension build-up in the strap 13and accordingly the torque in wheel 71, may be used to actuate amechanism for control of gate 14. It is observed that the illustratedmechanism for operating the face gate 14 is not critical to the instantinvention, as others than that described herein will be apparent tothose skilled in the art.

Nevertheless, as illustrated in FIGS. 1, 5 and 6, the face gate controlmechanism comprises a pneumatic gate control cylinder 131 which iscarried in the lower end portion 133 of a block or valve housing 132, athreaded end 131 of said cylinder being projected through a side face136 of said housing 132 and secured by a nut 137, as illustrated inFIGS. 5 and 6. The block or housing 132 is rigidly secured to the frame10 by suitable fasteners 134. As clearly illustrated in FIG. 6, thepiston or extensible and retractable rod 135 of said cylinder 13-1 isprojected through the outside surface 136 through the nut 137, saidpiston or rod 135 being rigidly secured to a vertical boss 138 which isextendable from the position of FIG. 5 to the position of FIG. 6 andthen withdrawable back to the position of FIG. 5 as a result ofcorresponding action of rod 135.

By means of a pair of vertically spaced links or ties 139 which extendnormally outwardly from outwardly extending lugs 140 of the boss 138,said boss is connected to the block 21 of gate 14. To effect theconnection, the inner ends of said links or ties 139 are pivotallyconnected to said lugs 140 by means of fasteners generally designated bythe numeral 141 in FIGS. 5 and 6. At their outer end portions, saidlinks 139 are pivotally connected to the block 21 by means of suitablefasteners designated 142 and seen in FIGS. 1, 5 and 6.

An elongated transversely extending sensing bar 143 may be splined orkeyed, as at I144, in the housing 132 to provide for movement of thesensing bar 143 transversely of the longitudinal axis of the strappingtool. The sensing bar 143 carries at its outer end a depending strikerflange 145 which is aligned in the path of a striker bar, boss or lug146 which is carried or rigidly secured to the housing 21. An inner endflange 147 of said sensing bar 143 is slidably mounted on the threadedouter end portion of a screw 148, said flange being trapped betweenopposed nuts 150 which are spaced apart longitudinally of the stem v149.A valve cap 151 is rigidly secured to the valve stem 149 mediallythereof between the innermost of the nuts 150 and the housing of a pilotvalve 153. The pilot va-lve by means of a suitable fitting including anut 152 is rigidly carried on the valve housing 132.

Pneumatic fluid to control the cylinder 131 is provided through a pairof tubes 155 which at their upper ends communicatively connect with aconventional fluid reservoir in the head 50 and which at the other endscommunicatively connect to the valve housing 132 by means of fittings1-54. The fluid line in which pressure is controlled by the pilot valve153 does not appear in the drawings.

After strap tensioning, sealing and cutting, as aforesaid, the gatecontrol cylinder 131, through suitable manage ment of fluid pressure inthe lines 155, will cause extension of the piston or rod 135 from theposition of FIG. 5 to the position of FIG. 6. Accordingly, the extensionforce will be transmitted to the block or head 21 through boss 13 8 andlinks 139 to cause the gate 14 to swing from the position of 'FIG. 5 tothe position of FIG. 6. Thereby, striker 146 will be carried intoengagement with the striker flange 145 to cause the striker bar 143 toslide and push the valve stem 149 from the position of FIG. 5 to theposition of FIG. '6 to actuate the valve 153.

Upon such actuation, the flow to gate control cylinder 131 is reversedby means well known in the art, and, accordingly, the gate '14 will beretracted from the position of FIG. 6 back to the position of FIG. 5. Asillustrated in FIGS. 1, 5 and 6, upon closing of the gate 14, a valve161 mounted in housing 132 is actuated by compression of its stem 160 bya striker pin 162. The striker pin 162 is projected inwardly toward saidstern 160 from the rear of the vertical boss 13 8, said striker pin 162having a threaded end portion projected through said boss 138 and onwhich there is mounted a nut 163 which secures said striker pin 162 inoperable alignment with the stem 160 which is projected from valvehousing 132. Upon depression of the stem 160, means (not shown) areactuated which commence feeding of the strap '13, to the end that thesame can be disposed in package or box encircling position.

The manner in which the gate 14 operates is now recapitulated tofacilitate comprehension. At the outset, the observation is made thatthe gate 14 provides a removable floor for an unnumbered double chamberand chamber 174, which are disposed in spaced apart relationship longit-udinally of frame 10, separating such chambers from the top of thepackage or box 18 to be strapped. The unnumbered double chamber isdivided by the gripper foot 72 into an upper portion or chamber 94 and alower portion or chamber 165. The chambers 165 and 94 merge into afioorless chamber 31, at the front of the gripper foot 72 beneath thesealing mechanism 53. The chamber 94 is in alignment with the deliveryopening in wall 12 through which strap portion S is fed from andwithdrawn to a strapping supply source. The strap portion S is projectedforwardly from the chamber portion 165 into the merged chamber 31, theninto chamber 174 and then through the front 16 of the frame where strapportion S merges into the loop 15. The loop 15 is carried about thepackage or box to be strapped to the rear of the frame 10 through wall12 of which it is projected as strap portion S" into the chamber 165which is disposed below chamber 94. From the chamber 165, strap portionS is projected beneath strap portion S' through chamber 31 and intochamber 174 where lead end 117 of strap portion S" terminates, beingdisposed on the surface 123 of gripper plug 124.

The chamber floor formed by gate 14 is imperfect or partial in that itcomprises a pair of gripper bases or plates 516 and 120 which are spacedapart longitudinally of base 11 and which extend transversely of thespace 83 on the top surface of the box or package 1 8 when the gate 14is closed. Between such gripper bases or plates 96 and 120, thebottomless chamber 31 is exposed to the top of the box or package 18when the gate 14 is closed, and above such exposure the sealingmechanism is disposed and will perform its sealing operation against thetop of the box or package 1 8. From the foregoing, it is apparent thatin superposed relationship the strap portions S and S" pass from beneaththe floor 82 of magazine 27 beneath the sealing mechanism 53 into thechamber 31 in which chamber the floor comprises the top of the package18.

The two components which form the floors for the chambers 165 and 174,namely the gripper base 96 and the gripper plate 120, compriseplatforms, work tables or back-up members. The gripper base 96 providesa table against which the lead end S" is gripped and immobilized by thegripper foot 72 while the slack is removed from the loop 15 by pulling,and the tensioning wheel 71 ten- 1 sions the strap 13 by driving thestrap portion S back toward its source. The gripper plate serves as aplatform against which the tensioning is performed by the tensioningwheel 71. The same is achieved by provision of a gripper pad 124 forholding by biting into the lead end S" under tensioning torque of thetensioning wheel 71 while said wheel 71 causes the strap portion S toslide back toward its source until the strap tension is equal to feedback torque.

In the instant embodiment, when such occurs the tensioning wheel 71 willslip, and actuation of the sealing mechanism 53 ensues to bend and crimpa seal 62 which has been delivered by ejector finger 39 about theoverlapped portions S and S" which are disposed below the sealingmechanism 53.

The tool is reciprocated to cause gate 14 to open after the strapsealing and cutting operation has been completed.

Upon outward rocking or opening of the gate 14, the members 96 and 120will be withdrawn from the space 83, thereby removing the floor to thechambers and 174, with a consequent snapping or tightening of the sealedstrap around the box or package 18 under its then eXiSting tension. Atsuch time the strap 13 will have been liberated from the strapping tool,and the package or box 18 sealed with the strap 13 can be removed frombeneath the base 11.

Attention is invited to the adaptability of the strapping tool forincorporation as a permanent part in large auto- Inatic package handlingequipment by reason of the rockable gate 14 which permits thetension-sealed strap to be removed from the strapping tool oncethestrapping operation has been completed, as illustrated in FIGS. 7 and8 which show the sealed strap liberated from the tool. As illustrated inFIG. 7, when the package 18 is ready for removal, the strap portion S,which is aligned with the chamber 94 (as shown in phantom) and which hasbeen previously severed from the sealed part of said portion S, which aspart of the sealed strap is disposed in the chamber 165, is again readyfor projection through the strapping machine and about a new package.

As many substitutions or changes could be made in the above describedconstruction, and as many apparently widely different embodiments of theinvention within the scope of the claims could be constructed withoutdeparting from the scope and spirit thereof, it is intended that allmatter contained in the accompanying specification shall be interpretedas being illustrative and not in limiting sense.

What is claimed is:

1. In a strapping tool for connecting the lead end portion and thesource end portion of a strap from a strapping supply source in bindingrelationship about an article, said tool having a frame, means fordisposing in said frame in overlapped relation the lead end portion andthe source end portion of a strap disposed about an article to be boundand connected to a strapping supply source, gripping means for holdingthe lead end portion of the strap against the pull of thereto appliedslack removal and tensioning force, means for connecting together thelead end and the source end portions of the strap, and means forsevering the source end portion of the strap from the strapping supplysource, the improvement characterized by said frame including a pair ofelongated spaced apart frame members defining an opening through whichthe strap is removable from said tool, a reciprocative base releasablyretaining the strap therein and pivotally connected to one of said framemembers to be rockable into said opening, said base providing a flooragainst which the lead end portion of the strap is held by said grippingmeans, and reciprocating means for rocking said base into said openingto move away from the lead end portion of the strap to enable removal ofthe strap with connected together end portions from the tool.

2. The strapping tool defined in claim 1 further characterized in thatsaid frame members are elongated to define an elongated path in whichthe lead end portion and the source end portion are disposed.

3. A strapping tool for connecting the lead end portion and the sourceend portion of a strap from a strapping source in binding relationshipabout an article, said tool comprising a pair of elongated spaced apartframe members defining a frame, said frame defining a path in which thelead end portion and the source end portion of a strap connected to asupply source and looped about an article to be bound are adapted to bedisposed in overlapped relationship, said frame members definingtherebetween an opening extending longitudinally of said path andcommunicatively connected therewith; a reciprocative gate having an endportion pivoted to one of said frame members, said gate having a pair ofextensions removably disposed across said opening and releasablyretaining the end portions of the strap in said path, said extensionsSpaced longitudinally of said path; means mounted within said frame anddisposed between said extensions for securing together the end portionsof said strap and severing the source end portion of the strap from thesupply source; means for gripping the lead end portion of the strapagainst one of said extensions against the pull of a slack removal andtensioning force; strap tensioning means directing a tensioning forceagainst the other of said extensions for feeding the source end portiontoward the strapping supply source, and means for reciprocating saidgate after connection of the end portions of the strap, whereby saidstrap may be removed from said frame.

4. In a strapping tool for connecting the lead end portion and thesource end portion of a strap from a strapping supply source in bindingrelationship about an article, said tool having a frame, means in saidframe for disposing in overlapped relation the lead end portion and thesource end portion of a strap disposed about an article to be bound andconnected to a strapping supply source, means for connecting togetherthe lead end and source end portions of the strap, means [for severingthe source end portion of the strap from the strapping supply source,gripping means for holding the lead end portion of said strap againstthe pull of thereto applied slack removal and tensioning force, andmeans for tensioning said strap prior to connecting said end portions,the improvement characterized by said frame defining an elongated pathin which the lead end portion and the source end portion are disposed, areciprocative member connected to said frame and defining a baseconstruction having a pair of extensions spaced apart longitudinally ofsaid path and releasably retaining the lead end portion and the sourceend portion Within the path, against which the lead end portion of thestrap is held and the strap tensioned, and means for shifting saidreciprocative member from strap holding and tensioning position afterconnection of said portions to permit disengagement of the strap fromthe tool.

5. In a strapping tool in accordance with claim 4 and wherein said frameincludes a pair of elongated spaced apart members defining saidelongated path and further defining an elongated opening communicatingwith said path and through which the strap with connected to- :getherend portions is withdrawable from said tool.

6. In a strapping tool for connecting the lead end portion and thesource end portion of a strap from a strapping supply source in bindingrelationship about an article, said tool having a frame, means in saidframe for disposing in overlapped relation the lead end portion and thesource end portion of a strap disposed about an article to be bound andconnected to a strapping supply source, means for connecting togetherthe lead end and source end portions of the strap, means for severingthe source end portion of the strap from the strapping supply source,gripping means for holding the lead end portion of said strap againstthe pull of thereto applied slack removal and tensioning force, andmeans for tensioning said strap prior to connecting said end portions,the improvement characterized by said frame including a pair ofelongated spaced apart frame members that define an Opening throughwhich the strap is removable from said tool, a reciprocative memberpivotally connected to said frame and definin a base constructionagainst which the lead end portion of the strap is held and the straptensioned, and means for rocking said reciprocative member into saidopening to permit disengagement of the strap from the tool afterconnection of said end portions.

7. In a strapping tool in accordance with claim 6 and wherein said framemembers define an elongated path in communication with said opening andin which the lead end portion and source end portion of the strap aredisposed.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,169,011 2/1965 Rlutty '323,198,218 8/ 1965 Ericsson et a1 l4093.4 3,241,579 3/ 196-6 Partridge-932 CHARLES W. LANHAM, Primary Examiner.

E. M. COMBS, Assistant Examiner.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No.3,346,022 October 10, 1967 Neil A. Polit It is hereby certified thaterror appears in the above numbered patent requiring correction and thatthe said Letters Patent should read as corrected below.

Column 4, line 38, for "successivelly" read successively column 6, line61, after "with" insert the sides of the strap guide 75. As earlierherein described, the column 7, l 1ne 6, for "assure" read assume column9, line 2, after 148 insert of a valve stem 149 column 12 line 15 after"said" insert end Signed and sealed this 12th day of November 1968.

(SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD J. BRENNER Commissioner of Patents Edward M. Fletcher, Jr.Attesting Officer

1. IN A STRAPPING TOOL FOR CONNECTING THE LEAD END PORTION AND THESOURCE END PORTION OF A STRAP FROM A STRAPPING SUPPLY SOURCE IN BINDINGRELATIONSHIP ABOUT AN ARTICLE, SAID TOOL HAVING A FRAME, MEANS FORDISPOSING IN SAID FRAME IN OVERLAPED RELATION THE LEAD END PORTION ANDTHE SOURCE END PORTION OF A STRAP DISPOSED ABOUT AN ARTICLE TO BEBOUNDED AND CONNECTED TO A STRAPPING SUPPLY SOURCE, GRIPPING MEANS FORHOLDING THE LEAD END PORTION OF THE STRAP AGAINST THE PULL OF THERETOAPPLIED SLACK REMOVAL AND TENSIONING FORCE, MEANS FOR CONNECTINGTOGETHER THE LEAD END AND THE SOURCE END PORTIONS OF THE STRAP, ANDMEANS FOR SEVERING THE SOURCE END PORTIONS OF THE THE STRAP FROM THESTRAPPING SUPPLY SOURCE, THE IMPROVEMENT CHARACTERIZED BY SAID FRAMEINCLUDING A PAIR OF ELONGATED SPACED APART FRAME MEMBERS DEFINING ANOPENING THROUGH WHICH THE STRAP IS REMOVABLE FROM SAID TOOL ARECIPROCATIVE BASE RELEASABLY RETAINING THE STRAP THEREIN AND PIVOTALLYCONNECTED TO ONE OF SAID FRAME MEMBERS TO BE ROCKABLE INTO SAID OPENING,SAID BASE PROVIDING A FLOOR AGAINST WHICH THE LEAD END PORTION OF THESTRAP IS HELD BY SAID GRIPPING MEANS, AND RECIPROCATING MEANS FORROCKING SAID BASE INTO SAID OPENING TO MOVE AWAY FROM THE LEAD ENDPORTION OF THE STRAP TO ENABLE REMOVAL OF THE STRAP WITH CONNECTEDTOGETHER END PORTIONS FROM THE TOOL.